OHA alumni Drake Batherson scores his first NHL goal

Cornwall, Ontario – Drake Batherson, who played for the Ontario Hockey Academy in Cornwall during the 2013-2014 season, played his first NHL game last night.

The Ottawa Senators were on the power play during the 2nd period when Drake Batherson scored to put his team ahead 2-1 versus the Detroit Red Wings. It turned out to be the game-winning goal.

Many young boys who play hockey dream of one day playing in the NHL and scoring their first goal.

“It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, scoring that first goal and having my whole family here to see it,” Drake Batherson said to media after the game according to the Ottawa Senators Twitter post.

The Ottawa Sun reported that Drake Batherson was the games first star.

Last week, Drake Batherson was the AHL player of the week scoring 6 points in a single game for the Belleville Senators versus the 2018 Calder Cup Championship Toronto Marlies. So far Drake Batherson has scored 20 points in 14 AHL games.

Batherson, who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2017, became a household name across Canada during the 2018 World Juniors Championship. He was Team Canada’s leader with 7 goals and helped set up Tyler Steenbergen’s game-winning goal versus Sweeden in the final minutes of the gold medal game.

In the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season, Batherson had 77 points in 51 games and helped push the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to the finals.

“He’s a smart and hard-working kid, and he worked hard to earn this opportunity. Watching him score his first NHL goal is something very special,” Ontario Hockey Academy co-owner Giles Lascelle said.

While at OHA, Batherson was coached by former Montreal Canadiens draft pick and former Ottawa Senators player Yves Sarault. Batherson averaged about a point a game playing with the OHA Mavericks Minor Midget AAA team, and the OHA Gold Mavericks AAA team.

Congratulations Drake Batherson on scoring your first NHL goal and playing your first NHL game!

Update: In his first 3 NHL games Drake Batherson has 2 goals, 3 assists, and 5 points. He’s now in the Top 30 among NHL rookies.

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by Jason Setnyk

Jason Setnyk is a high school teacher, journalist, published and award winning author and photographer.